Article-handling tool



May 4,1948. w. H. HARSTICK ARTICLE HANDLING TOOL Filed Dec. 28, 1946 Patented May 4, 1948 1 ARTICLE-HANDLING r001.

William H. Harstick, Oak Park, 111., assignor to z 1 International I Harvester tion 01' New Jersey Company, a corpora- Application December 28, 1946, Serial No. 719,039

This invention relates to an article-handling tool. More specifically, it relates to a device particularly adapted to remove a stack of disks from the bowl of a cream separator for cleaning. In centrifugal cream separators the separating bowl contains a stack of super-imposed conical disks whichare supported in a certain order or arrangement. 'These disks must frequently be removed from the bowl for washing and it is essential that the order of arrangement of the disks be preserved during washing.

The preliminary object of the invention is to provide an improved device for removing and supporting for cleaning a plurality of stacked aperture'd elements such as the disks of a centrifugal separator.

A more specific object is to provide such an article-handling device which engages the elements to be carried at a plurality of locations and which can be readily actuated to engage the disks by a finger of the operator while holding the supporting structure of the device in one hand.

The above objects, and others which will be apparent from the detailed description to follow, are obtained by a construction such as shown in the drawings, in which I I I Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an article; handling tool with portions broken away in section to better show the mounting of the supporting rods and the means by which "said rodsengage the stack of disks; 4

Figure 2 is a plan view of. the structure shown in Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of Figure 2 broken away in section to show in dotted lines the two positions of the actuating mechanism for oscillating the article-carrying rods; I

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a bottom view of a portion of the disk structure of Figure 1 showing also the lower end of one of the disk-supporting rods.

Figure 1 shows a cream separator bowl base In on which a stack of separator disks II is supported in a conventional manner. It is to be understood that the base I ll is suitably carried by a conventional bowl structure adapted to be mounted for high-speed operation in a centrifugal separator. The disks II are provided with a plurality of circular openings I2 which are arranged in axial alignment when the disks II are stacked in their operating position. The base III, as shown both in Figures 1 and 12, is provided with an elongated opening I3 in axial alignment 3 Claims. (Cl. 294-93) 2 with each series of the openings [2. A plurality of rods I4 are provided with upturned extensions or feet I5 which are adapted to pass through the openings I2 and the openings I3 and to thereafter be returned to the dotted-line position of Figures 1 and 5 to engage the lowersurface of the base I0. Figure 5 indicates in dotted lines the position of the extensions I5 when they are being inserted through the openings I3. Each of the rods I4 is provided with a flange or enlargement I6 spaced from the extension I5 to engage the upper surface Ofthe base I0 adjacent the opening l3 whereby said base is held against substantial movement adjacent the ends of the rods I4 while the disks II are free to move along the rods and to thereby be separated for eilective cleaning.

r The rods I4 are rotatably supported by a structure which will now be described. A pair of spaced plates I1 and I8, generally triangular in shape, are provided with central openings I9 and 20 through which the reduced end portions 2| and 22 of a center post 23 extend. As best shown in Figure 4, the reduced end portion 2| forms a shoulder 24 against which the upperplate I1 abuts. The reduced end portion 2| is flared over the upper surface of the plate to rigidly securesaid plate in position on the post. To securely hold said plate against rotation the post 23 is formed with a keyway into which an integral extension 26 on the upper plate I! extends, It is to be understood that the lower plate I8 is secured in a similar manner to the post 23,

The upper plate I! is provided with a, downturned stiffening flange 26 and the lower plate I8 is provided with a similar up-turned stifl'ening flange.

The plates I1 and I8 are provided at their apices with aligned openings 28 through which the rods l4 rotatably extend. Each rod is held in place against axial movement by a winglike member 29 having spaced side portions 30 and 3I which are curved around opposite sides of the rods to which it is attached and secured thereto by spot welds such as indicated at 33 in Figure 1. The spaced side portions 30 and 3| are integrally joined by a, U-shaped portion 34, the sides of which are closely spaced to frictionally receive downwardly turned projections 35 integrally extending from the periphery of a generally circular actuating member 36.

As best shown in Figure 1, the winglike members 29 are provided with notched end portions 31, said notches, as indicated b the lines in Figure 3, extending towards the rods I4 a sufficient ating member 36 is free to be oscillated from the. solid-line position, as shown in Figure .3, tether.

dotted-line position. An extension '39'from'the member 36 provides a lever arm .for oscillating: the member 36. A down-turned extensiong idaon said arm provides means adapted to be engaged by the finger of an operator for oscillating .the rods.

In the operation of the device as above described one position of the rods M is indicated bylsolid lines in Figure-3, .one of the projections 3-5.- b;eing;shown as located in-the u-shaped por- .tion 3420f one of the winglike-members 29. Breterablyhthe U.-shaped portions are-so constructed ,that'there-is africtional engagement-of the-pro.- iection 35 tothereby holdvthe actuating member 36-- against rotation. The other position of the actuating member .33 is indicated 'ill dotted lines in Eigure 3 withthe'winglikemember 29- swinging around' somewhat over 90 to the other side; In thisgswingingmovement theprojection 35, which provides theactuating force, leaves-the- U-shaped portion. 35,.and moves:between thespaced portions 330. andi 31, said portions being spaced apart; a suiiicient distance to allow roomifor the r-pro.- iection 35 during theswingingmovement; llt is to be understood that the member 36 has three projections 35, .one of which. actuates each of the threexwinglike members :23 carriediby the-'rodsA-B Although applicant has shown his improved article-handling deviceas embodied in aibarticulam-construction, itisto be understoodct-hat he claims as;his invention all modifications falling within the. scope of the appended, claims.

'What" isclaimed is: :LLAnarticIehandling tool :comprising a sup porting structure, a. plurality of parallel rods mounted. on'said supporting structu1'e,.-a: wing+ like memben having two; spaced portions extend.- ing axially along and securedto eachxofgsaidarod adj acentz saidisupporting structure, said members being notched adj acent: the 1 supporting structure to provide acnarrow: space between rthezmcmbers andithesstructure atthat-end, anvactuating memherirotatably; mounted'between said structure and tlre'znotchedend portions of said memberssaid actuating member being formed arounditsiperipherywith. a plurality of inturnedprojecti ons, on projectionextending betweenlthe spaeed porutip 3 of eachof the rod connectedmembers; and spaced radially from therod -whereby; oscillation of said-actuating member simultaneouslyoscil latesiall oftherods, said rods being iormedyat theirlower ends vwith means-toengage-and hold- 4 a plurality of articles to be carried thereon and handled thereby.

'2 An article handling tool comprising a supporting structure including two spaced parallel plates and a central post to which said plates are rigidly attached, said plates being formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, aligned evening gods ext ing th ough sa d op i ifor rotation therein, a wingelikeamember having two spaced portions extending axially along and :secured to each of said rods between said plates .andabutting said plates, an actuating member rotatably'mounted on the center post, said actuatinszmemberiheingifor ed a ou d ts p ph y zwltiiiaipluralityiofzinturned projections, one projectioniextending between the spaced portions of eachpf. ntherrod connected members and spaced radially from the rod whereby oscillation of said actuating member simultaneously oscillates all of the rods, said actuating member also being provided with ans xt nsi n ei cti ieabex uda the la sh b :en ma r t n o s estimat alaam iormedz-at h rsl we re d w t and ld plural t 19 a ticles- .thereon a d ha n cby- 3- -A "arti eih-and nalt q .m ris n asunp rtine "s ructure inclu i two {sp c d parall plates a d acentra no ito wh sa d plat sar i id ye 'a hed, rn t s e plurality of circum tially paced,; -aligned p nssi-md eat ndme t rijied s u edi peach .ofi-said r ds betweensaidap ates and abutting 'said plates, said membersabeing notche at; n cf; the r end :po tionsito 1 provide so e be ween-t e smemb r and ia uend an actuatin m mber ;rotat-. Q n i npostabetween one-.of idrplateszand; .not.ched-:.endinort n i fsaid members, said actuating; inenriberbeing 'formed around it er nhery withaaplurality:of:inturned pro ections; promotion;lext nd nezr tw ent tor may engage said extension to oscillate said rods, said rodsibeing zformedratatheir: loweriends with means to engage and hold a pluralitysofgarti- Q1QS" 6,0 .7 be c .arried .thereon;andi handled :thereby.

ise iss ncnsei sn The following references are of record inrt'he' fileof this patent:

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